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Learn about Elections and Voting , CAN I VOTE?

5/4/11

Learn about Elections and Voting , CAN I VOTE?





Can I Vote?


If you don't know where to go to cast your ballot on Election Day, or...



If you're not sure if you are registered to vote in your home state...



You've come to the right place. This site was created by the nation's chief state election officials to help make voting as simple and convenient as possible. Keep reading and you'll find a step-by-step guide to voting in 2008. Just follow the steps and vote!



STEP 1: Find out if You're Registered.



Before you can cast a ballot, you have to register to vote. Click here to learn what the deadline is to register in your state.



Even if you think you are already registered, it's a good idea to check to make sure your records are up-to-date. Simply find your state, county or city in our drop down menu and click on the link to check your voter registration record.



Select Your State Alabama, Mobile County Arizona Arizona, Maricopa County Arkansas California, Almeda County California, Sacramento County California, San Mateo County Colorado, Boulder County Colorado, Larimer County Colorado, Jefferson County Colorado, Weld County Connecticut, Southington County Connecticut, Vernon County Delaware District of Columbia Georgia Georgia, Gwinnett County Illinois, Champaign County Illinois, Chicago Illinois, Cook County Illinois, Lake County Illinois, Madison County Illinois, Will County Indiana Iowa Kansas Kansas, Johnson County Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maine, Portland Maryland Maryland, Prince Georges County Massachusetts, Boston Michigan Michigan, Canton Township Montana, Yellowstone County Nebraska Nevada, Clark County Nevada, Washoe County New Mexico New York, Monroe County North Carolina North Carolina, Durham County North Carolina, Gaston County North Carolina, Johnston County North Carolina, New Hanover County North Dakota Ohio Ohio, Cuyahoga County Ohio, Franklin County Ohio, Hamilton County Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee, Memphis Texas, Collin County Texas, Dallas County Texas, Denton County Texas, Fort Bend Texas, Harris County Texas, Midland County Texas, Nueces County Texas, Travis County Utah Virginia Washington Washington, King County Washington, San Juan County Washington, Whatcom County West Virginia



If you don't see your state in the drop down menu, click here to find contact information for your local election official. Contact his or her office right away to make sure you're registered.
If you haven't registered to vote yet, register today. Simply click here to download the form you'll need. Follow the directions for completing the form and then mail it to the address that's listed for your state's chief election official. Please note that this form is for use by people who live in or have an address within the United States.



STEP 2: Locate Your Polling Place.



Next, you'll need to know where to go to cast your ballot. Many states, counties and cities offer online services that match your address to the correct voting location. Others simply list contact information for local election officials who you can contact to find out where your polling place is located. Just look for your place of residence in the drop down menu below, and click on the link to find out where you should go to vote.
Select Your State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arizona, Coconino County Arizona, Maricopa County Arizona, Phoenix Arizona, Pima County Arizona, Yavapai County Arkansas California California, L.A. County California, Long Beach California, Napa County California, Riverside County California, Sacramento County California, San Bernandino County California, San Diego County California, Santa Clara County California, Sutter County Colorado Colorado, Arapahoe County Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Florida, Miami-Dade County Florida, Palm Beach County Florida, Pinellas County Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Illinois, Chicago Illinois, Lake County Illinois, McLean County Illinois, Will County Indiana Iowa Iowa, Scott County Kansas Kansas, Riley County Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maine, Portland County Maryland Maryland, Baltimore County Maryland, Howard County Maryland, Prince Georges County Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Minnesota, Hubbard County Minnesota, Lake County Minnesota, Minneapolis Mississippi Missouri Missouri, Boone County Missouri, St. Louis Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York New York, Albany County New York, New York City New York, Westchester County North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Ohio, Butler County Ohio, Clermont County Ohio, Hamilton County Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, Allegheny County Pennsylvania, Centre County Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Tennessee, Nashville Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Virginia, Arlington County Virginia, Fairfax County Virginia, Henrico County Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wisconsin, LaCross Wyoming


STEP 3: Know What Kind of ID is Required.


The states' identification requirements for voters often differ from state-to-state, but don't worry. You don't have to know what every state's requirement is -- you just need to know what kind of ID your home state will accept. Just look up your state in the drop down menu below to find out what you need to take with you on Election Day.
Select Your State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Illinois, Chicago Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming


STEP 4: Save the Date.


Be sure to mark your calendar so you don't forget to vote i n your state's primary or caucus election and on Election Day. If you're not sure when the primary/caucus election is held in your state, you can find that information here. This year, general elections will be held on Tuesday, November 4. Click here to find out when your local polling place will be open on Election Day.
If you can't make it to the polls on Election Day, you may be qualified to vote absentee. Absentee voting is conducted by mail, and sometimes in person, before Election Day. Typically, you will be asked to provide a reason why you can't participate on Election Day. Contact your local election officials to request an absentee ballot application. You may find their contact information here.
Some states allow voters to vote early, even if they are able to make it to the polls on Election Day. This practice is often referred to as early voting or no-excuse absentee voting. If you are registered to vote in one of the states in the drop down menu below, click on your state's name to find information about voting early in person or by mail.
Select Your State Alaska Arizona California Colorado Florida Georgia Idaho Iowa Kansas Maine Missouri Montana Nebraska New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming


STEP 5: Learn about the Candidates.


You may want to prepare for Election Day by finding out who's running for office before you go to the voting booth. A nonpartisan group called Project Vote Smart provides lists of candidates and officeholders on their Web site. Just click here to visit their Web site and enter your zip code in the left-hand column to get more information on the candidates in your district and your state.


STEP 6: Be a Poll Worker.
If you're planning to go to the polls on Election Day, why not consider being a poll worker? Every state needs people to work at the polls, and in most states you can actually get paid for serving.


Select your state, city or county from the drop down menu below to find out how you can apply.


Select Your State Alabama, Madison County Alaska Arizona, Gila County Arizona, Maricopa County Arkansas, Sebastian County California California, Alameda County California, Berkeley California, Contra Costa County California, Los Angeles County California, Humboldt County California, Madera County California, Riverside County California, San Bernadino County California, San Diego County California, San Joaquin County California, San Jose California, San Mateo County California, Santa Barbara County California, Santa Clara California, Santa Cruz California, Sonoma California, Tulare County California, Yolo County Colorado Colorado, El Paso County Delaware District of Columbia Florida Florida, Broward County Florida, Collier County Florida, Escambia County Florida, Flagler County Florida, Hernando County Florida, Hillsborough County Florida, Lee County Florida, Leon County Florida, Manatee County Florida, Marion County Florida, Martin County Florida, Miami-Dade County Florida, Nassau County Florida, Okaloosa County Florida, Osceola County Florida, Pinellas County Florida, Santa Rosa County Florida, Sarasota County Florida, Seminole County Florida, St. Lucie County Florida, Volusia County Georgia Georgia, Gwinett County Hawaii Idaho Idaho, Ada County Illinois Illinois, Chicago Indiana Indiana, Marion County Iowa, Clayton County Kansas Kansas, Johnson County Kentucky Maryland Maryland, Baltimore Maryland, Cecil County Michigan, Riverview Minnesota Missouri Missouri, St. Louis Nebraska, Buffalo County New Jersey, Hunterdon County New Jersey, Middlesex County New Jersey, Morris County New Jersey, Union County New Mexico, Don Ana County New Mexico, Los Alamos County New York, New York City North Carolina North Carolina, Catawba County Ohio, Defiance County Ohio, Fairfield County Ohio, Franklin County Ohio, Summit County Ohio, Wayne County Ohio, Williams County Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Rhode Island, Glocester South Dakota, Pennington County Tennessee, McMinn County Tennessee, Shelby County Texas, Bexar County Texas, Burnet County Texas, Harris County Texas, Hays County Texas, Nueces County Texas, Tarrant County Texas, Travis County Utah, Salt Lake County Utah, Utah County Virginia, Alexandria Virginia, Arlington Virginia, Fairfax County Washington, King County West Virginia Wisconsin, Milwaukee Wisconsin, Stoughton Wisconsin, Waukesha County


STEP 7: Vote!


Don't miss your opportunity to participate in the democratic process. Remind your friends and family to vote, too. In fact, you may even want to round up the eligible voters you know and take them to the polls with you on Election Day.
But most importantly, VOTE!

This Web site is brought to you by the National Association of Secretaries of State. Our members are the chief state election officials in 38 states.NASS would like to extend our special thanks to Kansas.gov for hosting this site. Kansas.gov -- your government online, anytime!

Want to link to this page from your Web site? Just use the logo below.

WWW.CANIVOTE.ORG
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